Phoebe’s new owners came to the “Scratch My Back” event at Skippers Smokehouse and shared a special moment with Pam P, HCAS’s lead investigator.

Then last week, the Phoebe’s family was kind enough to bring ‘thanks’ from Phoebe to those who gave her life after being buried up to her snout and shot twice in the head.

Sometimes, there just are no words……………………….

Organizer: Rescue Me Tampa – Shelter Dogs 

Beneficiary: HCAS Heartworms Fund for Foster Dogs

Hillsborough County Animal Services dogs in foster program need donations to pay for heartworm treatment.

Six great dogs in foster care who have heartworms.  They need your help to pay for the treatment so they can be adopted into loving forever homes.

Please donate to help them over this last hump to a long and happy life! Your donation will help with heartworm treatment for Jake, Jenna, Jordan, Major, Lila & Gypsy.  THANK YOU!

Friends of HCAS is an awesome organization who works hard to help the dogs at HCAS.  They are a registered 501c3 organization so your donations are tax deductible!  We appreciate their working with us to help these dogs with heartworms. 

The purpose of the Friends of the Hillsborough County Animal Services (FOHCAS) organization is to help:

• to provide loving care for the shelter’s animals;
• to raise funds for their medical and other care;
• to reduce euthanasia by assisting in the promotion of adoption of shelter animals;
• to assist in reuniting lost pets with their owners; and,
• to promote the humane treatment and care of cats, dogs and other companion animals through the education of the public as to responsible pet ownership.

Please consider donating to FOHCAS so they can continue helping the animals at HCAS.  Thank you!

HCAS is in desperate need of wet food, towels and toys for these guys…

“Summer is two weeks away. There are 1,000 animals in the shelter. Not all of them are from cruelty cases or hoarding cases. In fact less than 150 are Investigation animals.

These 1,000 animals are part of our every day lives, and they are part of your lives too. WE are responsible for them. They will continue to die without the community solving the real issues. Putting some teeth into responsible pet ownership. Spay and Neuter. Microchips. Education.

These beautiful cats, dogs, puppies, and kittens have been left behind in YOUR community and now they are at the end of landfill road. Turned in by their owners, turned in as strays, and picked up by Animal Control Officers because people are complaining or concerned for the animals welfare.We don’t drive around looking for animals to pick up. We answer over 300 citizen calls a day.

You can fluff it up, paint it, re-organize it and market it. If you don’t turn off the flow coming in it’s just window dressing the same problems.”

IT TAKES A VILLAGE…BE PART OF OURS…

Volunteer ~ Be a ‘foster’ parent ~ Adopt ~ Donate ~ Share the animals that are on our Facebook pages….

Hillsborough County Animal Services

The reason we all do what we do…

DOGS:

TOTAL DOGS     911

Dogs Adopted     497

Dogs that died     19

Dogs Euthanized     271

Dogs Relocated     0

Dogss RTO’d     124

Dogs Transferred     0

CATS:

TOTAL CATS     1,304

Cats Adopted     360

Cats that died     14

Cats Euthanized     918

Cats relocated     1

Cats RTO’d     6

Cats Transferred     4

BIRDS:

TOTAL BIRDS     46

Birds Adopted     2

Birds that died     0

Birds Euthanized     10

Birds Relocated     10

Birds RTO’d     1

Birds Transferrred     23

“OTHER”

TOTAL ‘OTHER’     67

“Other” Adopted     3

“Other that died”     4

“Other” Euthanized     51

“Other” Relocated     9

“Other” Relocated     0

“Other” Transferred     0

LIVESTOCK:   1 Total, 1 euthanized.

TOTAL ANIMALS DISPOSTIONED  at HCAS

 May 2, 2013-May 31, 2013

2,329

A very good friend of Scott’s was ‘pet sitting’ her. The friend lived on a third story apartment and had a carload of groceries the day she was watching Molly for a few hours. On her trips up and down the stairs with the groceries, she left Molly in the car. ..for a few minutes…then,…. forgot about her. Scotts words: I know, I know…I should’ve known better and I’ll live with it until I leave this world.

For 17 years Scott has been the organizer of an event called “Scratch My Back”, held annually at Skippers Smokehouse in Tampa. He organized this event to draw attention to the risks of heat, and leaving pets in cars. He wanted to honor  Molly, and, help himself try to overcome the grief that consumed him.

This past May 26, the 17th Annual “Scratch My Back”,  fundraiser  chose  ”Friends of Hillsborough County Animal Services,Inc” to be the beneficiary of funds raised.  The event  featured The Groves, The Lint Rollers, and The Quivering Rhythm Hounds. (All bands donated their time)

Skippers (who donated the ‘Skipperdome’ for this event), has confirmed that THIS “Scratch My Back” event was the most successful in attendance and money raised in the history of the event.

One final thank you to Scott Peterson, Tom White, Skippers and their great staff, Bonnie, the Bands, Steve Otto, Party Marti Ryan, HCAS and FOHCAS Volunteers, Rescues, and everyone who came out to support this event.

Do we have a GREAT “Village” or what?  :)

Mollys death wasn’t in vain.  Although the orignal fundraiser was only to be a ‘one time’ thing, it wasnt to be.  Molly lives on forever in the heart of the man who loved her, and in everyone who supports this event in any way.

Molly..you are loved ..and you will live on in each and every animal that leaves HCAS because of the great man that has chosen to continue to honor you and your memory.

The FOHCAS Memorial Day Cookout was a success..thank you to all who donated time, money and supplies to the event. We love you all!!  :)

Brownie Troop 738 visited HCAS a week or so ago and had a great time! And they came ‘bearing gifts’.

Some of the HCAS Investigators took them on a tour of the shelter and vet services. These young girls are part of our future. Learning the life of shelter animals at this age gives us all great hopes for the future.  :)

Thank you girls!!

The musical talent was incredible – The Groves, The Lint Rollers, The Quivering Rhythm Hounds, Dennis Toerpe & Denise Moore. And of course, the evenings Emcees Steve Ott & Marti Ryan – Thank You all for making this the first of what we hope to be a long standing tradition in successful partnership!

AND

A round of “Thank You’s” from the Scratch My Back event. The following donated goods and/or services for the raffle.

Dawson Dance Academy, Tampa
Little Pet Project, Tampa
Signature Massage, Tampa
The Bead Boutique, Brandon
Gulfstream Guardian Angel Rottweiler Rescue, FL
Groovy Cats & Dogs, Tampa
Gracie Tampa, Tampa
Pibbles Pawish, Lutz
Timberlane Pet Hospital & Resort, Plant City
Heather Rippert, Artist, Tampa
Kim Kenney, painted glassware, Tampa
There were a few last minute donations as well.

Because of these generous donations, the raffle generated far more money than we anticipated.

A giant Thank You to each of these donors!

A great time at the Skippers Smokehouse “Scratch My Back” Event.

Huge shout out to Skipper’s Smokehouse and Scott Peterson!!  It was an absolute BLAST!!

Pictures to come of what Skipper’s announced was the MOST SUCCESSFUL Scratch My Back event in it’s seventeen year history. How cool is that!!

Our Village grew by many tonite. To all those who came to enjoy the music, the fun and donated so generously. WE LOVE YOU!